Barnes Fires Twice as The Magpies Overcome Portuguese Side and Mourinho

When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a tough game. But such worries vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed a further shot off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper once more saving his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing the German striker deep. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.